Top TV moments of Capitol Hill’s surreal summer

Congress is out of session until the fall, with many lawmakers using their annual summer recess to hit the campaign trail for the November midterms.

In honor of the recess, we’ve compiled a list of the best moments from the House and Senate that have taken place over the summer. Feel free to e-mail us with other suggestions for top televised congressional moments.

♯ 6 During Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan’s confirmation hearings, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., asked Kagan where she was on Christmas day, which led to this gem of a comment.

♯ 5 Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, earned himself a spot in the history books by apologizing to BP, the company responsible for the worst oil spill in history, during a hearing on Capitol Hill.

♯ 4 Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, mistakenly spoke about the “two Vietnams,” North and South, back in July. She later clarified her statement.

♯ 3 Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y., let one of his GOP colleagues have it on the House floor in July over a debate on extending compensation to 9/11 victims.

♯ 2 Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, said that there are “terrorist babies” being born in the U.S. to illegal immigrants who pose a threat to the American way of life. Gohmert said illegal immigrants are having babies, who then are granted American citizenship by the 14th Amendment, only to be raised in their home country as terrorists and can return to the U.S. to wreak havoc on its citizens. His comments earned him a spot in Jon Stewart’s hot seat, as well as a heated debate with CNN’s Anderson Cooper.

♯ 1 Perhaps the most out-there comments came from embattled Rep. Charlie Rangel, D-N.Y., who spent more than 30 minutes defending himself against the 13 ethical violations he is accused of by the House Ethics Committee on the House floor. He dared his colleagues to expel him from the body, saying that he will not “go away.”

2 Responses

After watching the Gohmert clown speak, I realized exactly where the “Goober” character from “The Andy Griffith Show” went after the show was canceled. I know Texas executes the mentally handicapped, but they really should keep them from running for office, especially in a state where the electorate is stupid enough to elect them.